Sea Park Serial Rapist: Suspect expected to appear in court today
The man arrested on Tuesday is expected to appear in the Port Shepstone Magistrate's court this morning.
Police have confirmed that a 35-year-old man was arrested on Tuesday this week in connection with an attempted murder and attempted rape case which occurred along the beach in Sea Park in January.
Provincial police spokesperson Colonel Thembeka Mbele confirmed that the man was arrested in the Umgababa area.
ALSO READ: Sea Park Serial Rapist: Woman speaks out after fighting off attacker
Mbele said police are investigating whether the suspect is linked to other rapes which have occurred in Sea Park.
He will appear in the Port Shepstone Magistrate’s Court today (Friday 25th).
So far, the Herald has knowledge of five women who have either been harmed in some way by the man, branded the ‘Sea Park Serial Rapist’.
A reward of R20 000 was also placed on the table for any information that would have led to the arrest.
For weeks, police and detectives from Southport police station, led by detective Mark John, supported by members from Southport Sector 1 Policing Forum and various security companies.
Private investigator Brad Nathanson also worked hard to crack the case.
In the interim, residents of Sea Park and Southport have lived in fear, uncertain as to when he would strike next.
The Herald spoke to another woman last week who may have been another victim of the suspect arrested this week.
The 28-year-old woman’s journey from work turned into a nightmare when she was attacked by a man along a footpath in Sea Park.
Her story is a warning to anyone walking alone to be careful, and to rather walk in a group.
On a Thursday afternoon, just after 2pm, the petite woman was walking home after work.
She was walking along a footpath through the sugarcane field when she saw a man standing by a bush.
They exchanged greetings and she continued walking towards the road.
A few seconds later, the man wearing a red T-shirt and 3/4 jeans, white shoes, gold caps on his teeth, a floppy cream hat and carrying a black bag was by her side, and she noticed a gun on his hip.
He pulled out the gun, cocked the weapon and held it to her head.
She tried to fight the man and run away but he forced her at gunpoint into the sugarcane where he sexually assaulted her.
He later fled with her cellphones and handbag.
“I am strong now, but when this incident happened it was terrible,” she said, clearly still shaken by the ordeal.
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